Monday, August 24, 2015

“You Bet Your...” Gambling in Spain

For my Dad's birthday, just like Father's Day last year, I decided to buy
him a lottery ticket. This time I chose an
organization that sells lottery tickets for a good cause.

ONCE is very popular here. The
vendors, who almost all have a disability of some kind, walk around
wearing chains of lottery tickets around their neck. The 5-digit
numbers that passerby spot can lead to an impulsive buy if they
contain one or any combination of their lucky numbers. My friend
spotted a vendor so I seized the chance to buy her number, too. Our tickets cost 5 euros each.

Besides lotteries involving buying tickets, in Jaén there are umpteen Salon de juegos
(Gambling rooms). I am the type that enjoys gambling once in a while;
I once went to Las Vegas alone and ended up having a great time
attending lessons on craps and blackjack. However, these Jaén salons
aren't my thing. It's simply machines and televisions to bet on
races, and of course, a bar. I prefer tables, dealers, and
interacting with the crowd.

Some of my favourite nights in my
Canadian hometown consisted of dressing up, going to the casino, and
enjoying a drink and live music before hitting the Russian Roulette
or craps tables. I never made large bets, but it was just as exciting
to see my $20 grow with a roll of the dice or a spin of the wheel.

It was the same when my friend texted
saying we'd won 6 euros on ONCE. Upon redemption, I walked from the ONCE booth
looking forward to using my winnings on dinner. You can bet I'll be
playing again soon!